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Tim Gunn Shows You how to Make it Work

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Jaime Ritter Student Contributor, University of Alabama at Birmingham
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UAB chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Lucky Brand at the Summit recently had a fashion show hosted by Tim Gunn, from Bravo’s Project Runway. And yes, if you’re wondering, he is as sassy in person as he is on the show. He dished on how to “make it work” with all of this season’s hottest trends.

The rule of one-thirds:

 “When selecting an outfit, you should keep in mind proportion. Divide your body into one-thirds. The first section is from your shoulders to your waist. The next is from your waist to your knees, and the last is from your knees to your feet.” 

For example, if you’re wearing short shorts on the bottom, wear a more demure top. Only show one-third of your body at most. Play up one part of your body, like your legs or cleavage, but not both. 

 

On trends:

“(Fashion is) all about the fit, the style, and it’s about making it work for you…I say forget about trends. I’d never go out and say, buy x. If you feel that you need to be on trend, do it with accessories. A trend is only good if it works for you.”

 

Pattern mixing:

“Stay within the same color family, it seems hard, but it’s actually very easy…Don’t buy an item that has only one function.”

About model’s pattern mixing: “I don’t believe (the pants and headscarf) are competing, I think they’re complimentary.”

 

Gender sharing:

“Ladies, you shouldn’t be confined to your side of the store. These models are wearing the same jeans…and no one will know!” 

 

Horizontal stripes:

“Be mindful of the size and scale and color story. If the stripes aren’t repeating at the same size and scale, it can be slimming…it can work!”

 

Colored jeans:

“Everyone tells me they never see me in jeans, and now I’m in red jeans! You can dress them up, or down. It looks like a pant, but with the comfort of a jean.”

 

Work attire:

“I tell everyone to own a blazer, to have it on the back of your chair or in your hotel room…if your boss calls you for a surprise meeting, you’ll look professional and ready.”

 

Maxi dresses:

“Dress it down. Don’t wear heels, that would look ridiculous. Don’t over-accessorize with a lot of jewelry…if you look like you’re trying too hard, people won’t respond well to you at all.”

 

Body-con outfits

Women often try to hide their bodies under baggy clothes, “the more volume your clothes have, the more volume you’ll have.”


Jaime is a junior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. There she is the captain of her varsity golf team and a journalism and English double-major. She is an active member in the Student Athletic Advisory Committee where she helps organize volunteer opportunities and social functions for student-athletes at UAB. Jaime enjoys cooking, entertaining friends, reading/writing blogs, fashion, and of course, golf. She aspires to eventually write for a major magazine or write chick-lit books.